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Chase hots up as Player bows out

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Rob Hodgetts | 06:51 UK time, Saturday, 11 April 2009

It was like robbing from the poor to give to the rich.

Masters leaders Chad Campbell and edged the pace to nine under after the second round to make it even harder for those struggling to stay in the tournament. But, for players in contention just a few strokes behind, it was a welcome relief that after reaching 11 under at one point.

The fear of the players on Thursday night was that the Augusta officials would toughen up the course after a benign first day. They didn't have to. A stiff breeze saw to that. But a host of players still made hay and put themselves into good positions for Saturday's 'moving day'.

Perry's 67, Angel Cabrera's 68 to get to eight under, to haul himself back into it at four under, and Sergio Garcia's 67, also to get to four under, were some of the highlights. Good to see 2004 Open champion Todd Hamilton back, too, with a 70 for six under. Maybe he is about to show that his 2004 Open triumph was more than just a very large flash in the pan.

Mickelson takes time out during his second round

Phil Mickelson said he needed fireworks and got at least sparklers with a 68 to edge back to three under. Very much back in the hunt. "I think the goal [of the club] is to make it tough on Saturday and then try to let guys light it up on Sunday," he said.

Tiger Woods, at two under and tied 19th after a grinding level-par 72, is still thereabouts, but history is not on his side, though as we know he has a knack of rewriting the history books. No player from outside the top five after 36 holes has gone on to win in the last 10 years, while Nick Faldo's climb from 10th at halfway in 1990 is the best comeback in the last 22 years. Woods will also have to beat the margin of six strokes that he clawed back to win in 2005, the most since Jack Nicklaus's six-shot turnaround in 1986. The biggest 36-hole comeback ever at the Masters was eight shots, by Jack Burke Jr in 1956.

Padraig Harrington, meanwhile, will need to have regrouped by the time he goes out on Saturday. He was handed a one-shot penalty when his ball moved in the wind after he addressed it on 15. Out of all golf's pedantic rules, this one ranks very highly in the nonsensical stakes.

Harrington seemed to have become the embodiment of taking the rough with the smooth in his victories in the last two major championships, but cracks seemed to be appearing in his Zen-like state after Friday's round. "I can't take another day like that where half a dozen putts that I was taking out of the hole, missed," he said. "You can absorb some of it during a tournament but at this stage I don't think I can."

Northern Ireland's rising star Rory McIlroy will just be breathing a sigh of relief that he is playing at the weekend after facing disqualification for kicking sand after leaving his ball in the bunker on 18. He was hauled back to the clubhouse on Friday night and reviewed tapes with officials, .

It was another sobering lesson for the 19-year-old, who dropped five shots in the last three holes after reaching the 16th on a very threatening four under. Before the 19-year-old tees off on Saturday, 100 lines on "I must never let my guard down at Augusta" wouldn't go amiss.

Another late curveball for the weekend players was the torrential downpour and hail accompanying severe thunderstorms on Friday night which will have softened the course for the early starters, rendering greens more receptive but also making it play longer.

Saturday itself is set to be sunny with moderate westerly winds which could dry it out for the afternoon. It may prove to be a tale of two courses. But while shooting low would help, not shooting high must be the goal.

Augusta's 18th green, Friday evening - A glorious chapter in golf finally closed here when Gary Player retired from major championships after missing the cut in his 52nd Masters.

The and was one of the big three, alongside Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus, who dominated golf from the end of the 1950s to the 1970s. He is one of only five men to win a career Grand Slam of all four majors, winning nine majors in all to place fourth on the all-time list behind Nicklaus (18), Tiger Woods (14) and Walter Hagen (11). Player won Masters Green Jackets in 1961, 1974 and 1978.

At 73, Player has not been competitive in majors for some time now, and cynics say he hung on deliberately just to clinch one more victory over old rival Palmer by beating his record of 50 Masters appearances. But he has added a rich layer to golf's history and folklore.

Player deserved to go when he was ready and joins Palmer, 78, who played his last Masters in 2004, and Nicklaus, 69, who bowed out in 2005, on the sidelines. His popularity stemmed from his personable nature yet fierce competitive spirit. For a man small in stature, he possessed a huge heart. He was the first non-American to win at Augusta when he held off a charge from defending champion Palmer to win by a stroke. "I'd like to think that I've played with tenacity, never given up, never on a single shot," he said.

The Augusta crowd took to him immediately, cementing the bond with two more Green Jackets. "I have never ever encompassed having love to the extent that was shown to me here," he said in a tearful news conference after his final round.

, who adheres to a firm set of values and a strict regime of physical fitness. And he also coined one of the iconic sporting phrases, "The harder I practice, the luckier I get."

Player was delighted to this week before struggling to an 83 on Friday. But it wasn't really about the golf. It was always going to be a farewell tour, a chance to say goodbye and thanks to the fans, and let them do the same. "What touched me most is that in 36 holes I got a standing ovation on every hole," he said.

Player gets emotional on the 18th hole

Luke Donald partnered Player this week. The Englishman was also in the group when Jack Nicklaus retired at the Open Championship at St Andrews in 2005. "It was a huge honour to be paired with Gary," said Donald. "I am not sure why they keep picking me, but maybe I am the nice guy and won't get in their way. That 18th hole took a lot out of Mr Player and a lot of emotions, with all his experiences and emotions, came flooding back. He played admirably. What a true gentleman and one of the greats of golf. A great ambassador for the game."

, when he was greeted by his family and fellow South Africans Trevor Immelman, Rory Sabbatini, Richard Sterne and Louis Oosthuizen, who were accompanied by their partners. "I was doing fine until I got to 18 and then I got very choked up, when I saw my family and everyone else," said Player.

I was also lucky enough to be on the 18th at St Andrews when Nicklaus retired. Though I'd say that was a much bigger moment for me as Nicklaus was my hero, Player is of a very similar stature. I interviewed him once on the phone ahead of the World Match Play at Wentworth. He was generous, patient and polite, remembering my name instantly and using it throughout, even though he has given thousands of interviews over the years.

He hasn't been afraid to be outspoken in his time, and claimed at the Open at Carnoustie in 2007 that , though he didn't provide names to back it up. In his final news conference here, he criticised some athletes for not giving enough interviews. But when some pressmen sniffed another line and asked 'Who?' Player wisely said he was talking generally across all sports and moved on.

He might be fond of preaching the message that exercise is the cure for most modern ills, or telling you that he is the most-travelled athlete on the planet. But he will also tell you about the extensive charity work he does, especially with black children in South Africa. A great man, as well as a great player. Enjoy retirement Gary.

Comments

  • Comment number 1.

    Good on yer, Gary - a gent to the end! Dynamic does not begin to describe him. So if you want some old timer to retire, just partner him with Luke Donald and he'll get the message. "Ah, Luke, this is Greg..."

  • Comment number 2.

    Yesterday was certainly a very emotional day at Augusta with the true great bowing out along with Fuzzy and possibly Norman. It was great the host broadcasters stuck with PLayer on the last and let us all enjoy his last Masters moment.

    The field this year has certainly had it easier this year than in past years, I think this has shown un the fact that the course record couldve gone on thursday and that Anthony Kim broke the birdie record yesterday

    Quick last note, I came on on thursday and let everyone know I thought stricker would win, I got shutdown instantly, well he's still there in 10th at -3 so we shall see, although im not holding my breath.

  • Comment number 3.

    Made me proud to be a South African.Long live gary

  • Comment number 4.

    If I may be pedantic, the rule incurring a penalty for the ball moving after address does make sense. It only becomes a problem on courses that cannot be irrigated properly (Cleeve Cloud near Cheltenham) and at Augusta National where the management pedantically chooses not to irrigate and cuts the grass too short. Rant over!

    As regards GARY PLAYER - my hero as a kid. If Player was a bit bigger, Tiger Woods would have no chance!
    My fondest memory is also of Player's polite manner. In every (on-course) interview, he would begin with "Mr Longhurst Sir,...

  • Comment number 5.

    Although he is 10 shots off the lead, this is a great exerience for Rory McIlroy. Golf does have pedantic rules but they are there for a good reason - well most of them are. I seem to remember someone (Faldo, I think?) moving a bit of coral from a bunker and getting penalised, although that would have been permitted if it was a piece of rock (and not the stuuf you buy from Brighton!). He's also been partnered with the reigining Masters champion. He could even be paired with Tiger tommorow.

    He has got a long way to go, but Rory has enough time on his hands to beat Gary Player's record of Masters appearances. There is no doubt in my mind that Gary stayed on to beat Arnold Palmer's record, but there is no shame in that. The fans at the course were extremely appreciative to see him play. Although I'm too young to have witnessed Gary's best years, I have sensed his great attitude and professionalism in the twilight of his career.

  • Comment number 6.

    Love your dispatches from the front, Rob.

    Lovely stuff with Player and Fuzzy, too bad CBS failed to identify Oosthuizen and Sterne . . . .

    As for Padraig of #15, very unfortunate, but before totally castigating the rule, we should remember that he DID have the option of remarking his ball; kinda surprising he didn't as he was clearly aware he was on a slippery slope (as it were). His horseshoe on 18 was the final straw methinks, but he's still well in it as are all the -1's and -2's, some of course more than others.

    twc says 1.01 inches of rain last night, so imagine someone will come out early with something mid-60's, hopefully from the 12.35 tee time.

  • Comment number 7.

    I loved Fuzzy trotting off with tears in his eyes at the end and what a shot he produced at the 16th.

    And Player, what a hero - he spent years playing second fiddle to Jack and Arnold who seemed to get the lions share of the crowds love. To be only one over after nine holes on thursday at the age of 73, at a monster like Augusta, that's just incredible. The best advertisement you could get for keeping yourself fit into old age. What a playist.

    Poor Rory, no matter what happened this year, there would always be a point that he would be getting accused of inexperience. Up until the 16th he was rocking along rightly, you can't make your debut at Augusta without it catching you out at some point. He'll be out early and he'll be in the top twenty come the end of the day I reckon.

  • Comment number 8.

    Wow, did it rain last night. I got stranded in the media centre for about 45 minutes from about 10pm as an almighty thunderstorm raged.

    We'll have to see how it affects the course, though remember Augusta's greens do have sub-surface air systems - basically heating and cooling devices - that can suck out moisture in a heartbeat. There could be spots on the fairways and fringes that are soggier, though.

    LarryLizar69 - love that image of Luke Donald as a logo-ed up grim reaper for players' careers! No-one over a certain age will be able to look him in the eye.

    MB2009 - you did mention Stricker, and I bagged you. Let's see.

  • Comment number 9.

    Gary Player, what a hero for the sport and for South Africa. During his career he never gave up, always playing to the end, And even through tough times like when the fans were judging him because he came from South Africa and was seen as a supporter of Apartheid (which he never was) he remained professional through out. I dont usually watch golf, but today was an excpetion. it brought a tear to my eye when he played the final hole too. What a legend. Enjoy Retirement Gary, after playing for so many years,and contributing so much to Golf, you deserve it

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